Number of mental health cases has doubled in Coimbatore during the COVID-19 crisis, say Psychiatrists

Coimbatore: Mental health issues such as depression, suicidality, thanatophobia (fear of death), etc., continue to be on the rise among Coimbatoreans. This has almost doubled the tally of cases across the city, say psychiatrists.

'COVID-19' virus outbreak has made a heavy impact in the lifestyles amid people from all walks of life which has unfortunately contributed to a slew of psychiatric problems in all sectors. Psychiatric practitioners in Coimbatore say they witness new cases at almost twice the rate than they had during the pre-pandemic times.

Speaking to SimpliCity, Dr. N.S.Mony, a consultant psychiatrist, said “The pandemic crisis has changed many lives upside down. People from all sectors have started to face mental issues. Women, especially homemakers, get depressed due to workload more than ever. Unlike normal days, they spend more time with their spouses, which in many cases, lead to friction, argumentative tiffs, sexual inadequacy because of the constant presence of children, sexual torture, etc. Many incidents on these lines have been reported to the police. Researchers say that lack of awareness amid the masses is the main reason for such issues."

While speaking about the menfolk, he opined, "Men, mostly breadwinners in households where women are housewives, are affected with depression due to various commitments such as repayment of loans, huge business-related losses, etc. Confined within the walls of their home, they vent out their frustration against their spouses and children.”

Children have not been spared either, says Dr. Mony. He said "With the advent of online classes, the children are being subjected to a new kind of pressure. On top of that, they don’t get to meet their friends, they are not able to go out and play, and they face a questionable academic future and uncertainty about examinations. This has contributed to a lot of confusion and anxiety in students of all age groups. While the cancellation of board exams was welcomed by many, quite a number of students feel that they would have scored more marks than they normally would in school exams; this has upset a lot of students too." Adding to this spectrum of ailments, Dr. Mony said even little children, who are used to having a nice time playing outside their homes, going to malls, parks, hotels etc., along with their families, are exhibiting behavioural issues now.

Elders in our families and communities have a tough time dealing with the current crisis. Dr. Mony says that they have been agonizing over fear of death more than ever and this could lead to depression in some cases.

Perhaps the most gripping issue that the consultant psychiatrist has pointed out is the mental health problems that the COVID-19 frontline warriors such as doctors, police, health care workers, and sanitary workers could be facing. “This category of people stares at the face of death everyday while going to and returning from work," said Dr. Mony, which in his opinion could traumatize them.

The doctor says that there has been an alarming increase in cases of late. He said, “Before the lockdown, I used to get 20 patients on an average, most of them regulars. But now, the number has almost doubled. I see nearly 35 to 40 cases every day with the majority of them being new walk-ins. This is a cause for concern.”

With depression, anxiety disorder, and fear of death being the main issues during this critical time, patients who suffer from them exhibit a few telltale symptoms, according to Dr. Mony. He lists out a number of symptoms of patients.

In spite of the grim situation, Dr. Mony feels all is not lost and in fact things would return to normalcy once the virus outbreak is controlled. He said, “All these hurdles are temporary. This is not something that only a single person is experiencing. People across the world have not been spared, so each and every one of us should confidently overcome it. Keeping faith is the need of the hour.”

While there have been many negative impacts, Dr. Mony feels that a lot of good things have happened as well. “People get to spend more time with their families. Quite a lot of broken relationships are on the mend. A lot of folks have turned towards healthy food choices. Many have quit drinking and using tobacco,” he said.

Dr. M. Dinesh Periasamy, a consultant pediatrician, child and adolescent mental health practitioner and adolescent counsellor said, “children face an undue pressure during this time. The main issue is online classes. There is no sufficient infrastructure in place because of which various bottlenecks are experienced in implementing the classes.”

Dr. Dinesh Perisamy feels that adolescents have been affected hugely. A sense of worthlessness has crept into the lot and is contributing heavily to the deterioration of their mental health. The doctor said that the media can and should play a stellar role in steering the youth towards positivity. He said, “I understand it is the duty of the media to report gruesome events such as murders and suicides, but at the same time they should do all, within their capacity, to motivate people, especially youngsters.” 

He added, “This is a crucial time. Youngsters, adolescents, and children keep ruminating the past and resort to excessive use of gadgets, they game a lot. These practices could affect their mental health stealthily. Though this is a forbidding situation, it’s not that grave a problem. Vigilance, motivation, friendliness, and gestures such as display of love from the parents’ side can go a long way in keeping our young ones healthy.”